Cable connector for induction heating systems



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3,457,540 CABLE CONNECTOR FOR INDUCTION HEATING SYSTEMS Hans Rolfes, Bronx, N.Y., assignor to Trans Continental Electronics Corp., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 397,865, Sept. 21, 1964. This application Oct. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 585,103

Int. Cl. H011' 3/04, 13/54 US. Cl. 339-15 6 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE This invention constitutes a continuation-in-part of electric heating systems as disclosed in my prior applications, Ser. Nos. 397,865 and 397,866, filed Sept. 21, 1964 issued in Patent Nos. 3,335,251 and 3,335,252, Aug. 8, 1967, respectively, and Ser. Nos. 465,618 and 465,619, filed lune 21, 1965 issued in Pat. Nos. 3,377,464 and 3,377,463 April 9, 1968, respectively. The present invention deals primarily in the provision of electric connector means externally of coupled ends of heating units of induction heating systems, generally of the type and kind disclosed in said prior applications. More particularly, the invention deals with an electric connector means which constitutes a part of pre-formed assemblages of each unit to thereby expedite and simplify the coupling of units at the place of installation, as well as in caring for disassemblage of the units for repair or other purposes, and includes ilexible electrical conduit sealed to the units and joined by detachable electrical connectors.

Still more particularly, my invention deals with an electric connector means, wherein the plug and socket parts can be united by the use of a single hand of an operator.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following descriptions, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic showing of one of my improved cable connectors at the coupling of `adjacent ends of two heating units of a system.

FIG. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of FIG. 1 omitting the cementing or welding means.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the section of the cable connector as attached to one end portion of each unit, with parts of the construction broken away and parts shown in section, this view further showing part of the section illustrated in FIG. 3A in its coupled relationship to the section other wise illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3A is a detailed showing of the section of the States Patent O cable connector attached to the other end portion of each unit.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section detailed View of part of the construction shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a face view of the plug portion of the section shown in FIG. 3 to illustrate the four terminal pins of the plug and the key for alinement -of the socket with the plug and omitting all background showing.

In diagrammatically illustrating one `adaptation and use of my invention, I have shown, in part, in FIG. 1 an induction heating unit, generally of the type disclosed in application Ser. No. 397,865. Thus, the t-wo adjacent units of the system as shown will only be briefly described and, for the most part, like references will designate like parts.

At this time, it is pointed out that induction heating units of the kind dened have installations of numerous kinds, in other words, Where owable materials are passed through tubes, pipes or other conductors and the insulated electric heating units can, in any size, be applied. As an example, piping extending through buildings and floors of buildings can be so induction heated. In this and other uses, elbows and similar fixtures are incorporated in the units.

Turning now to FIG. 1, in this figure, 10 represents one end portion of an induction heating unit and 10 represents the opposed end portion of a similar unit. Each unit is generally of the same construction. Each unit includes a metal pipe 11 and a casing 12, preferably formed of polyvinylchloride. Within the casing 12 and around the pipe 11 is an insulating foam 13, preferably formed of polyurethane. At 14 are shown the induction heating coils which are spaced longitudinally of each unit, the end coils only being shown. The cable is generally identied by the reference character 115, this table having four insulated wires, as diagrammatically seen at 16 in FIG. 1 and shown, in part, in FIG. 3 and FIG. 3A. At 17 is shown one part of a pipe coupling on the unit 10 and at 18 is shown the other part of the coupling which is on the unit 10.

The units 10, 10 are coupled by a split tubular coupling 19 of plastic material and, here, polyvinylchloride can be used. This split sleeve is cemented or welded to the casings 12 after the insulation 20 has been arranged upon the pipe unit comprising the parts 17 and 18. This insulation can comprise pre-formed halves of polyurethane or a foam of such material injected through couplings 19, as taught in the prior applications herein identied. In pre-forming the insulation 20, it can be shaped to at least fit within 19 and adjacent ends of 13 of the two units.

At 21, FIG. 1, is generally shown the cable connector assemblage which is illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 3 and 3A. The section 22 of this assemblage constitutes part of the end portion of the unit 10 of each unit of the complete system; whereas, section 23 constitutes part of the other end portion of each unit or, in other words, the end part shown of unit 10. By reason of the limitation of the drawing, part of the section 23 is shown broken away and attached to the section 22 of the connector. The section 22 can be regarded as the electrical plug end of the connector; whereas, the section 23 can be regarded as the electrical socket end of the connector. As these plug and socket ends are of standard construction, no detailed showing thereof was deemed to be necessary. However, FIG. 5 has been shown, which is actually the terminal end of the section 22 with the section 23 detached simply to illustrate the face view of the rubber plug part 24 and the four terminal posts 25 of :said part, as well as to show in the socket portion 26 of the plug part the protruding key rib 27, which is engaged by a corresponding keyway in the socket part, the latter being omitted, as it is well-known in the art. The plug part 24 is enveloped in a plastic casing 28, note FIG. 3, secured to the plug part 24 by screws 29, the casing 28 having a hexagon end 30 and a protruding threaded portion 31, upon which the metal coupling sleeve or ferrule 32 is mounted, the latter abutting a rubber gasket, as at 33. Also secured to the sleeve 32 is a metal elbow 34, to the threaded socket end 35 of which is secured a threaded plug 36 which positively xes the entire section 22 to the casing 12 of the unit 10, as diagrammatically illustrated. Here, it is pointed out that, in shipment of `a complete assembled unit to a point of installation, the section 22 will constitute a part of the unit and this is also true of the complete assemblage of the section 23, as described below.

The section 23 comprises a rubber socket 37 shaped to fit in the socket portion 26 of the rubber plug part 24 in establishing electrical connection with the pins 25. Mounted on and :suitably retained against displacement from 37 is a plastic nut 38 engaging the threads of the plastic casing 28 in securing and retaining the elecrtical plug and socket parts together and maintaining the assemblage of the cable connector 21. The insulated jacket containing the insulator wires 16 is stripped, as at 15', FIG. 3, to release the insulated wires 16. Mounted on the cable adjacent the stripping, as at 15', is a metallic coupling sleeve 39 having, at each side of its hexagon nut, extended threaded portions 40 and 41, the portion 40 having a tapered portion 42 adapted to engage a tapered rubber gasket 43 mounted in a nut 44 in establishing a positive seal around 15, as well as a positive grip on 15. In threaded engagement with the portion 41 is another hexagon nut sleeve 45 having an externally threaded end 46 engaged by a nut 47 including an inturned stop flange end 48, note FIG. 4. Arranged within the bore of the sleeve 45 is a exible conduit coupling 49 having an inner spirally beaded wall 50 and an outer spaced wall terminating in a ared end 51. This construction forms a socket 52, in which the flexible conduit 53 is adapted to be firmly gripped. This conduit is of standard construction and its sectioning is purely diagrammatic in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 to simplify the showing. It usually comprises a spiral metallic core, upon which a plastic tube is arranged and is well-known in the art. To establish a firm coupling, as well as a seal, a rubber packing ring 54 is employed, the ring having a tapered inner portion 55 engaging the flared end 51, as clearly seen in FIG. 4, and a reduced outer end forming a shoulder 56 engaged by the flange 48.

The other end portion of the conduit 53 has a similar coupling with the threaded end 57 of an elbow 58, the threaded end 57 being engaged by a nut 47', similar to the nut 47 and, in FIG. 3A, 54 illustrates the protruding reduced end of the packing ring which is employed. The elbow 58 has two angularly disposed hexagon portions 59 and mounted on the other threaded end 60 of the elbow is a ferrule or coupling sleeve 61 engaged by a threaded plug 36', similar to the plug 36. The sleeve 61 is employed, first, to standardize the use of the plugs 36, 36 and, further, to bring the two elbows 34 and 58 in substantially common alinement, as diagrammatically seen in FIG. l of the drawing, thus maintaining the connector in a spaced relation to the casings 10, 1.0 as well as with respect to the split coupling 19.

Keeping in mind that the sections 22 and 23 of the connector are pre-assembled parts of the units 10, 10', it will be apparent that, after the pipe couplings 17 and 18 have been coupled together and the split sleeve 19 assembled, as shown in FIG. 1, the sections 22, 23 can be quickly coupled together by grasping the socket section 23 by one hand and using this hand to manually tighten the nut 38 in `completing the circuit through the induction heating coils of the joined units. In like manner, as and when desired or necessary, the circuit between the induction heating coils can be quickly broken by separation of the plug and socket parts for repair or other purposes in the system.

At this time, it is also pointed out that suflicient freedom is provided in the flexible conduit 53 to insure positive coupling between the plug and socket parts and this is represented by the slight curvature in the conduit, as seen in FIG. 1 ofthe drawing.

For purposes of description, the electric plugs and sockets can be generally identified as electric couplings of the cable connector and it will be understood that the plug and socket through the medium of the wires 16 establish electrical contact with the coils 14, this being done by usual methods and preferably contained within the casing 12 of each unit.

Further, the sleeve 45 can be termed a tubular coupling, with which 39 and 44 are coupled in definitely fixing and sealing the cable 15 with respect to the adjacent end portion of the flexible conduit which is secured within said tubular coupling. Generally speaking, the two elbows 34 and 58 can be referred to as tubular fittings which are attached to the ends of the casings of each unit for the fixed or rigid support of the cable connector. In referring to electric heating systems employing electric heating tubular units, this is to cover systems of the kind under consideration employing various types of electric heating means as illustrated, by Way of example, in two of the prior applications hereinbefore identified.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cable connector for electric heating systems employing electric heating tubular units, each unit comprising a pipe for circulating a flowable material, a plastic casing larger in diameter than said pipe, a body of insulating material between the casing and pipe, electric heating means including a cable extending longitudinally of the pipe, means for coupling the pipes at ends of adjacent units, means for insulating said second named means, a split tubular coupling joining said units and enveloping said third named means, said cable connector having electric couplings comprising an electric plug section at one end portion of one unit and in electric circuit with the first named means of said one unit, an electric socket section at the opposed end portion of an adjacent unit and in electric circuit with the first named means of said adjacent unit, and means for retaining the plug and socket sections in coupled relationship with each other.

2. A cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the sections of each unit at end portions thereof include tubular fittings having means for securing the same to the casing of the unit.

3. A cable connector as defined in claim 2, wherein one of said sections includes a fiexible conduit.

4. A cable connector as defined in claim 3, wherein means is employed for fixing and sealing one end of the fiexible conduit on the tubular fitting of the section, including said flexible conduit.

5. A cable connector as defined in claim 4, wherein said last named section includes means for iixing and sealing the other end of said exible conduit to a tubular coupling.

6. A cable connector as defined in claim 5, wherein means secured to said tubular coupling is employed for fixing and sealing the electrical coupling of said last named section with respect to the last named fiexible conduit end, and the other of said electrical couplings being coupled with the other of -said tubular fittings.

(References on following page) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Barnard 339-15 Jarvis 219-33 X Bailey 219-10.51 Ford 166-60 Raypholtz 339-89 X Noschang 339-89 Nova et a1. 339-89 X Kuehl et al. 339-89 X Lovitt et al. 174-88 Appleton 339-89 5 RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner BIUHO 339--89 X 10 U.S. C1. X.R. 

